The Shell/Motiva Manufacturing Complex announced Wednesday morning that it is now in the process of restarting the unit that, due to equipment failure, has caused an elevated flare to continually spit massive flames and thick black smoke into the air above St. Charles Parish since early Sunday morning. The Norco plant released a statement notifying residents that it hopes to have the situation under control...

The Shell/Motiva Manufacturing Complex announced Wednesday morning that it is now in the process of restarting the unit that, due to equipment failure, has caused an elevated flare to continually spit massive flames and thick black smoke into the air above St. Charles Parish since early Sunday morning. The Norco plant released a statement notifying residents that it hopes to have the situation under control by this coming weekend.

Shell Chemical on Motiva Enterprises' Norco campus burns chemicals in a flare as a result of equipment failure.Diya Chacko, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

"Every effort is being made to minimize higher-than-normal flaring, possibly accompanied by heavy smoke, that may occur during the start-up process," the statement read. "Our focus remains on safety and protecting the environment and our community as we return to normal operations."